Case Study: Applied Research and Commercial Testing
GOAL:
South Central “Southside” Virginia, anchored by the city of Danville, wanted to attract and develop technology and talent in order to build a new economic base.
CHALLENGE:
The economy of the region had historically been dominated by tobacco, textiles, and furniture but by the turn of the century were all in steep decline. In addition to a dissolving economy, the region had no high-tech assets to speak of and virtually no ability to attract highly qualified technical talent– the 5% of graduates from STEM fields responsible for 50% of U.S. GDP growth during the previous 50 years.
SOLUTION:
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) was established in Danville in 2002 and a plan was quickly developed in partnership with Virginia Tech to build technical capacity, perform commercial testing and applied research, and host faculty, graduate students, and other technical personnel.
The IALR action plan centered on:
• identifying local assets attractive to university researchers and federal agencies for applied research opportunities
determining facilities and equipment needs associated with the targeted
applied research and commercial testing/technology development
obtaining seed funding to outfit applied research laboratories and hire
technical staff
hiring faculty members to live and work onsite in the distressed community
supporting faculty, graduate students, and technical staff to build value in
place
4 research centers were established at the IALR:
Institute for Sustainable and Renewable Resources – leveraging the region’s
tobacco growing assets through biotechnology
Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research – leveraging the
recently re-opened Virginia International Raceway (“America’s Nürburgring”)
Advanced and Applied Polymers Processing Institute – targeted to aid the
region’s numerous polymers companies
Joint Unmanned Systems Testing and Research Center – leveraging low traffic
air, land, and water right-of-ways for the fast-developing unmanned systems
field
IALR commercial testing facilities associated with each of the four research centers
opened their doors and attracted clients.
OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS:
By 2007 45 faculty members, graduate students, an engineers were employed at the IALR. Presently, IALR applied research efforts have established Danville as a leader in the fast-growing hemp industry, hosting an annual Industrial Hemp Summit attended by hundreds from across the globe, as well as providing important testing and research services. The IALR continues to leverage its strengths in biotechnology to assist numerous facets of the agricultural industry. A high speed tire testing facility continues to draw industrial partners associated with the racing industry to Danville and an advanced manufacturing center at the IALR has been established to support industry in integrating and optimizing new capabilities.
Commercialization and entrepreneurship programs
continue to produce returns. Business growth has
doubled beyond the original IALR 90,000 square foot
building to encompass four additional buildings, the colocation
of numerous businesses to the IALR facilities
and adjacent properties in the Danville CyberPark, and
the redevelopment of Danville’s historic tobacco
warehouse district.